Bearing



D6c. 19, 1950 J. H. SCHREIBER 2,534,379

.Filed Ost. 1 45 ll llllll NVEN JOHN H. S BER) A TTO YS.

meterial et the open end of the chennels I2 ere then crimped inwardly egeinst the members I4, es illustrated in Fig. 6, thereby clamping and securing the spacing members in proper edjustment.

In the one form of beering, a roller I 5 is seated in each of the speces deflned by the adjacent wells f the separating members es illustreted in Figs. 1-3, or alternatively, a series of balls !5 of proper diameter are seeted in parallel .IOWS in the speces between the separating members, lt being understood thet either the rollers E5 or the balls IG have a diemeter slightly in excess of the depth of the recesses or cages in which they are mounted, and that they are freely revoluble therein.

In assembling the structure to form unit bearing members, a selected length of the continuous bearing structure is separated from the comtinuous length of the structure thus essembled by cutting the connecting members M et the proper point. The structure is then bent arounol a shaft indicated et IT which, in eflect conshtutes the inner rece of the beering structure.

In order to retein ehe beering in essembled relation to the sheft, an outer race comprising e plate I8 formed es an annulus with side flenges I9 is provided. This outer rece has a diameter in respect of the diameter of the shaft such es 130 spece it sufliciently from the periphery of the shaft, in Order that it Will ride upon the rollers 0r balls as the case may be, 130 permit seid members to freely rotate, and yei: 130 be held er re tained in their cages. I1; will be understood that the outer race may be supported in any usuel form of Journal beering, thereby providing the entifriction support for the sheft.

From the foregoing description, it Will be understood thet the structure disclosed may be fabricated ab e very 10W Cost and, that by sepereting the required lengths from the continuously formed beering structure, units of desired length to eccommodate the varying diameter cf shafts may be provided and then essembled where required for the anti-friction support of shefts having a wide varietion in diemeer.

It will also be understood that, where lt is desired 110 provide an antifriction support in a horizontal plane, the desired length of the bearing structure may be separeted from the comtinuous structure, and employed for the support of a mechine part having a flat instead 0f a rounded surface.

It Will also eppear thet for providing the bearing units of diflerent diemeter the on1y speciel dimensioned element is the outer race having a diameter appropriate to the sheft for Which it is 1:0 constitute a part 0f the bearing structure.

It Will be understood that the elements of the structure may be veried in form and construction without departing from the principles of the invention, and that the scope of the invention is not limited except es defined in the claims.

Whet I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: v 1 A bearing structure comprising a series of individual duplicated spacing members formed 110 provide when in essembled relation e series of rectengular cages for antifriction elements, revoluble antifriction members loosely mounted and retained in seid cages, flexible separate counecting means secured to seid spacing members to retein the seme in spaced parallel relationship, seid eonnecting meens being edepted to be cut to provide bearing units of select lengths.

2. A beering structure comprising e series of duplicated spacing members forming on each side substentially U-shaped retaining recesses flexible connecting members secured seid spacing members et each end thereof to meintein seid members in parallel speced reletionship, and revoluble antifriction members loosely mounted in the spaces between seid spacing members.

3. A bearing structure comprising a series of duplicated spacing members, each cornprising a central plate and a transverse arm et eech end of seid plate connecting members extending axially 0f seid arms, seid specing members being secured to seid connecting members in parallel spaced edjustment, antifriction members (rolle1s or balls) loosely mounted between seid spacing members and being freely revoluble therein.

4. A bearing structure comprising a series of individual spacing members formed 170 provide rectanguler reteining ceges assembled in parallel reletionship, individual flexible connecting mernbers extendil1g parallel eech other and secured to the extremities of seid spacing mernbers, and antifriction members (rollers 01 balls) mounted in seid cages, seid bearing structure being adapted ao be beni; around e cylindrical shaftby flexing seid connecting members in uhe spaces beweensaid spacing member.

5. A bearing structure, comprising a series of spacing members substantielly I-shaped in cross secion, flexible means for connecing seid spacinrg memberg in spececl relationship to provide rectangular retaining ceges, antifriction meinbers loosely mountecl in seid cages, seid bearing being aciapted 130 embrece a cylindrieal shaft, and means for retaining said antifriction devices in seid cages when assernbled With a shaft.

6. A bearing structure comprising a series of dupliceted specing members, eech heving a cenoral portion Wih beering receiving feces and end portions, seid end portions being of trough shape, antifriction beering members between seid spacing members in caged reletion, and parallel flexible connecting rnernbers disposed in the troughs of seid end portions and Secured thereto integrating seid structure.

7. A bearing structure comprising e series 01 duplicetecl specing members, each havin e centrel pertion With bearing receiving faces and end porfiions, seid end portions bein of trough sl1epe, antifriction beering members between seid spacing members in caged relation, and parallel flexible connecting members disposed in the troughs' of seid end portions, each trough shaped end portion including segments crimped egainst its connecting member 130 secure it there- 00.

8. A bearing structure for ready fiexing es r quired comprising a flexible supporting structure including spaced transverse portions and captured bearing elements supported between spaced transverse portions and maintained thereby ageinst escape from the side faces of seid supporting strucfiure, seid bearing elements being permenently retained ageinst escape from alle side feces of seid supporting structure by seid spaced transverse portions in any flexed position 0f the flexible supporcing structure.

9. A bearing strucoure for ready flexing es required comprising e flexible supporting structure including spaced trensverse portions and ceptured bearing elements supported thereby seid supporting structure and captured bearing elements being formed es duplicating segments, seid bearing elements being permanently reteined ageinst 5 6 escape trom the sides of the supporting structure UNITED STATES PATENTS by said spaced transverse portions in any fiexed Number Name Date position of the flexible 'supporting structure. 1'923823 Young 3, 1933 1931073 Herrmann Oct. 17, 1933 JOHN SCHREIBER- 5 1,962372 Twomley June 12, 1934 1,966,266 Skelly Ju1y 10 1934 2,038474 Brown Apr. 21, 1936 REFERENCES OITED 2171,854 Lee Sept. 5, 1939 The following references are of record in e zz47123 Levey June 24, 1941 file cf this patent! 10 2.288,564 Gales June 30, 1942 

